Well testing tool



April 1,- 194L A. BOYNTON 2,236,512

WELL TESTING TOOL Fig. i,

April 1, 1941. A. BoYNToN WELL TESTING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.4, 1958 TTO'R/VEYS.

sas-f A. BOYNTON WELL TESTING TOOL Filed oct. 4, l193s;

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A Trop/vf ys.

A ,wv' 24C 'O6 Figi 22.2 ALEX/won? 50mm/v, 9 ga /A/N TOR, 1

Patented Apr. l, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE :merz

wm 'rasrma roof Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, flex.. Applicationoctane: 4,1m. seam. :sans

` (c1. lss-1) lclainis.

My invention relates to well testing device in which a packer mountedupon the drill stem or other pipe. is lowered to the top of, or slightlyabove the formation to be tested. The drill pipe is suspended, with thedevice attached to its hanging lower end. Mechanism is provided to keepthe w'ell uid from entering the drill stem until the packer has beenexpanded against the adjacent formation, so as to prevent downwardmovement of well fluid from ,above the packer during the test. 'I'hepacker is expanded by fluid pressure applied by a piston, which pistonis in turn actuated by a cable. The movement which expands or sets thepacker also serves to open the drill stem below the packer for entranceof well uid. This operation, in effect. pumps the well dry down to thelevel of the packer. The quantity and nature of fluid the well producesinto the.

swabbed, or withdrawn from the well in order to ascertain the result 4ofthe test.

No shoulder, or so-called rat hole, is required to set this packer asitis a wall type packer which may be set anywhere in the well bore.Neither is it necessary that the drill stem extend to bottomof the wellin expanding the packer. The position of the packer in the well isdetermined by the length of drill stem above the packer, and not bylength vof the usual anchor string below the packer, the latter string,omitted in the employment of this packer, being now generally employedto determine the position of most other wall packers. Y

'Ihe packer herein employed will not stick, lodge, or freeze in the wellbore, as do the usual types of packers now used; because when the cablepull-which causes the packer expansion is released, the pressure of wellliquid automaticalLv compresses the packer herein employed.

Some type of bit, usually a fish tail, is ordinarily, but notnecessarily, attached to the lower end of the device to facilitatemixing mud in the well bore if necessary to do so, by rotating the drillstem or by pumpingr through it, either or both.

The drill stem may be pumped through at any time, as well as rotated,while the device is being run into or being withdrawn from the well.

expansion of the packer, or opening or closing of the intake ports; suchoperation being vwholly controlled by-means of an attachableanddetachable cable operated through the drill stem.

A clutch is provided proximately above the packer. This clutch isnormally engaged, so that the entire drill stem and device may berotated as a unit. The clutch is adapted to become disengaged by thesame cable pull which causes expansion of the packer. After the packerhas been expanded, the drill stem from the clutch upward may be rotatedas in drilling, while the packer and all parts upon which it is mountedvremain stationary during the test. Sticking of the drill stem in thewell is prevented.

The device also provides for the employment .of means for recordingpressures, temperatures,

etc. obtaining in the well.

The main objects of this invention areto provide a formation testingdevice'for drilled wells, which device has the following advantages:

First: That it may be safely run into, and readily withdrawn from a wellfor the purpose of recovering a meured sample of the wells productionfrom thehorlzon below where the packer is set, whether the well be casedor uncased; and. which device may be also used to discover, locate, andmeasure leaks coming in or going out through any casing which maybe inthe well and close openings with cement.

Second: That it operates in a straight bore, and does not require thatan oiset or .shoulder be provided by drilling a hole of reduced diameterinto or through the formation to be tested.

Third: V'll'hat the pipe upon which the device is run may be rotatedfrom top to bottom, including the device itself, while it isbeing-lowered into, orbeing withdrawn from the well, and which may bepumpedthrough during any or. all such Fourth: 'niet the pipe may berotated above the packer during the production test, while the packerremains stationary.

Fifth: That, by the action of a piston having suitable effective area,the packer may be set with any necessary force.

Sixth: Tlfxat, by wholly withdrawing the internal pressure employed toexpand the packer, the packer is released and then caused to becontracted by external pressure of the well fluid, which pressure alsocauses the intake'ports to close and urges all other parts toward theirnormal positions. l

Seventh: 'ihat the device may be placed any- No turning of the drillpipeis required to cause where in a well bore by merely raising or loweringthe drill stem upon which it is run; and that by swabbing or hailing thetest fluid out of the drill stem.- after each test, additional tests maybeV made in rapid succession either of the same or different formationsby merely raising or lowering the drill stem, so as to place the packerin proper position for each test.

Eighth: That pressure and temperature recording instruments, and otherinstruments if desired, may be placed in the device for the purpose ofascertaining the pressure and temperature and variations thereof,obtaining during the test in the formation.

Ninth: That, by a test or series of tests, which may be rapidlyconducted at moderate cost with this device, all information relative tothe production of a Well is quickly available, thereby rendering itunnecessary to take cores of the formation in drilling for oil, gas,water, or other mineral.

With the foregoing and other related objects in view,' reference is nowmade to the drawings,

in which- 'Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form pandedposition of the packer beingillustrated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the deviceoutlined in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the lower portion, completing thedevice partially shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line H I, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a. transverse section on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 8 6, Fig. 2.

Fig. 'I is a transverse section on the line 1 1, Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8 8, Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9 9, Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line IIi-I l, Fig. 3. i

Fig. 11 is an outside view in perspective of 'the clutch of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section in perspective,

showing a portionof the clutch mechanism illustrated proximate the upperend of Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of a. portion of the first modifiedform of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the lower portion continuing thedevice shown partially in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a transverse section on the line I5 I 5, Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a transverse section on the line I6 I6, Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a transverse section on the line I'I-Il, Fig. 2.

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the second modied formof the invention.

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section of the portion of the deviceillustrated in Fig. 2, showing the relative position of the parts with-the packer expanded.

Fig. 20 is a transverse section on the line 20-20,

' Fis. 1s.

FiFig1.21is a transverse section on the line 2 I 2 I Flg. 22 is alongitudinal section of a portion of the portion of the deviceillustrated in Fig. 18,

v to refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1, the preferred form of the invention is showninserted ln awell bore a, with the bit I suspended in the well, the packer I2 beingpositioned proximately above the formation b being tested; other lowerformations being indicated at d. 'I'he dotted lines I2c indicate thepacker expanded into sealing off engagement with the well formationhaving been actuated by means of a cable 00 attached to pull rod 55,means being provided to attach and detach the cable from the pull barwhen necessary to expand or contract the packer, as required. Theovershot or grappling tool for attaching and detaching the cable fromthe pull bar is not shown, because many tools for such purposes are oldand well known in the art. That part of the well bore between the bit Iand bottom of the well c, indicated at d, is intended to show that thedevice may be positioned anywhere in a well bore, that no anchor stringis required to support the packer from bottom of the well, and thatsuccessive tests may be made.

The outer shell oi' the device, having its meinbers joined together asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, consists of the upper clutch shell housingnipple 2, the lower clutch shell housing nipple 3, the nipple l.coupling 5, nipple 8. the packer end shield member 1, the packer nipple8, the nipple I3, coupling Il which is welded to nipple I3 at Ila andthe instrument case housing nipple I5, and the bit I.

'I'he packer I2 is employed to seal off against the wall of the wellbore so as to prevent downward migration of well fluid from above duringthe test. The packing nay be of rubber or any other tough, durable, andexpansible substance, loosely surrounding the nipple 8, with its taperedends I2b closely engaged within the cups or shields Ic and 9b. Thepacker end shield member 9, threadedly engaged ove nipple 8, affordsmeans for causing the packer to be adjustably engaged between its endshields. The locking ring II and packing I0 are obvious means forpreventing leakage underV high pressures along the threads betweenmembers 8 and 9. The weld 1b prevents such leakage between the members 1and I. The grooves Ia and 9a provide that the tapered ends of the packerwill imbed therein and securely engage the internally grooved surfacesof the packer and shield members whenever great expansive force isexerted within the packer.

The steel reinforcing rings IZa, which preferably may be moulded intothe Packer. are shown properly positioned proximate the ends of cuppedportions 'Ic and 8b of the members I and 9, respectively. The taperedends of the packer may be each six to eight inches long. 'I'he distancebetween the reinforcing rings may be twelve to eighteen inches. Thepacker wall should be, preferably, not less than twice as thick as theclearance between the packer and the wall of the well, and maypreferably be much thicker if diameters will permit. The clearancebetween the packer and well bore may vary with different tools anddifferent wells. It will be understood that the above dimensions are byway of illustration only. and that the device will be made for differentsizes and conditions in well bores. The packer is expanded by liquid'pumped by the The inner cylinders, one abovev the other,

both axially positioned within the device, are disposed to house twovpistons, one employed to expand the packer, mission of test uid. Thesecylinders are formed of nipples $2 and I4, threadedly joined upon thepartition plug 3l, the spring housing nipple IlA being secured uponthelower end of lower cylinder 34 by threads and the weld lla. The cylinderassembly is supported at its upper end by a support spider Il, havingwelds IIb, Fig. 2, by which the spider is secured upon the uppercylinder 32 and its arms Sla, Fig. 6, secured within nipple l.

The check valve support 24, secured within the packer nipple 8 by theweld 24a, and secured upon the spring housing nipple 35 by a weld 24h,serves to fasten the lower end of the cylinder assembly. Both ends ofthis assembly are strongly secured as shown, in order that the cylinderswill not be lifted out of place by the strong cable pull upon thepiston'within cylinder 32 when the packer is expanded. The welds 4Gb and48a, which loin the upper and lower crimped ends of the pressure pipe 46to the cylinder assembly, and welds 49a, which and the other to controlthe ad tacting the interior of the packer, as is obvious. l'brthispui'pole the chambers 32h and 40e are nlled with a liquid,preferably a viscous lubricant as lead paint, glycerin or heavy oil. The

liquid employed to transmit the force exerted upon piston 31-4l to thepacker may be-placed in the chambers 12b and 40e through the openingsshown closed by plugs 48. the short nipples 4-I secured between nippleand pipe 4B by welds 41a, being to close oif all communication betweenannular chambers 44e and annular opening 48d.

The annular chamber 30h formed within the crimped sleeve u may be alsosued with a lubrijoin the nipple t and the cylinder 32 together,`V l

provide further anchorage for this assembly.

Within the cylinder l2, the upper piston assembly has a close slidingit. y'Ihe purpose of this piston is to expand the packer by forcingliquid into it as will be explained. The upper piston assembly isformedof piston base` 40, having a landing leg 40a`and a cup carrierextension 40h, over which extension cups $8 are held apart by thespacers 39. Thev threaded engagement between extension 40h and thepiston head 31-secant which should be of e. specific gravity heavierthan the well liquid, lead paint being satisfactory.-

'When the piston Il-4I is raised by a cable pull,

as win be explained; the lubricant placed m cnamber :so win be drawnunder the piston; and when thepiston returns, this lubricant will beforced back into the chamber 2lb. In this manner, mud in the well boreis kept from 'under the piston and proper lubrication provided for itseasy return.

The breather passages 30a are for the obvious Purpose of allowing welliluid to come and go through them as the lubricant level in chamber 30hrises and falls in response to the movements of the piston. It will benoted that the' leg 40a is long enough to prevent the piston 40 fromtraveling far enough downward to close the openings 49h, also that theupper end of piston head 31 is course, upon the size of well bore forwhich the cures the assembly which will be referred to as the piston31-40. The piston rod 36, having .threaded engagement with head l1, hasa close sliding t through cylinder head plug 3l within the upper end ofwhich the packing 29a engaged by the gland 29 is held tightly aroundthis rod by a sutfllng box cap 28.

The pressure pipe 46, secured upon the cylinder assembly by welds 46aand 4Gb, as stated, has

within it the annular chamber 4lc. This chamber communicates with thechamber 32h through openings 32a and with the inner wall of the packerthrough openings 50h. Short nipples 50, secured between the nipple l andthe pressure pipe 46 by the welds 50a vand'weld 4Gb, which latter weldjoins together pipe 48 and cylinder 32 proximate their upper ends, makethe chamber 46c secure against leakage therefrom when great pressure isexerted on any liquid therein by the piston 3-4.

It will be noted that the short nipples 4l, secured between the nipple 8and the cylinder 32 by the welds 49a, have openings 42h communicatingbetween the annular space around leg 4ta of piston base 40 and theannular lubrication chamber 30h, which chamber is in communication withthe well bore through the openings nu. It is, therefore, apparent thatthe pressure of well liquidin the well bore is exerted under the piston31-40.

This force, of course, is equalized by the same pressure exertedexteriorly oi the packer, and is transmitted through the elastic wail ofthe packing to the chamber B2b above the piston via openings 50h,chamber 46c, and Aports 32a.

The piston 3l-49, having the well pressure equalized above and below it,willtransmit the `entire force of a cable pull upon it to a liquid con#of reduced diameter for sui'ilcient length to provide that the piston,in its uppermost position, will not close the ports 32a.

'I'he diameter of piston 31-4! will ordinarily vary between 13/4 and 2%inches, depending, of

tool is dimensioned. Obviously, the piston stroke used to expand thepacker will vary with the diameter of the piston, the inside diameter,and length of the packer, and the clearance between the packer and wellbore. A piston travel of four to eight feet will allow the tool to be ofconvenient length, and that the piston will be of small enough diameterto develop more power than necessary to expand the packer by the pull ofan ordinaryI swab or hailing line such as may be ori hand with all wellequipped drilling rigs. i

Within the cylinder 84, vanother piston has ay 42a. The piston spacerhead 4|, having threaded engagement upon the extension 42a, serves tosecure the cups and spacers in position, as shown.

The lower tubular extension of the piston base 42 is 'arranged toreceive the intake valve piston ..45 whose upper end is of reduceddiameter. This piston member has a close sliding fit within the cylinder34'. VA central opening through the piston member? 45 communicates withopenings 45a leading into the annular chamber 34o. The

lower piston assembly, including the members el and 4i, will be referredto as piston 4I-4B. This double piston is urged to its normal upperposition as shown in Fig.2, by the, force of coiled spring 21 engagingunder the externally flanged upper end 26a of valve travel spacer 26.The s911118 is' supported, and may have its compresfsionradiustedby 'thebase ring 2E, threadedly engaged within the lower end of spring housingnipple 35. The lower end of valve travel spacer 26 is spaced from thevalve landing spider 2l by the lower extension 8a of nipple 3, so thatwhen the spacer 26 lands upon the spider, the annular space 34o willhave moved to opposite the `discharge ports 34h (see Fig. 19). It willbe 0bserved in Fig. 2 that in the upper or normal position of the pistonmember l5, it closes the ports 34D. The piston spacer head II has anupper portion of reduced diameter which lands upon partition plug 33, soas to provide that pressure ports 34a will never be closed bythe piston.

The check valve assembly provides that the drill stem may be pumpedthrough at any time, but prevents well liquid from ever entering thedrill stem through the openings 24e. This assembly consists of valvewasher 23, which may be of leather, rubber, belting, or any other tough,pliable substance; the check valve base 22, and the coiled spring 2I,the latter being supported by the valve landing spider 20 secured withinthe nipple I3 by welds I3a. .It will be observed that valve washer 23,for approximately one half of its thickness, is set into a conformingrecess within the ripper end of its ,base 22, so as to partially housethe valve member, and thus positively cause it to engage over theopenings 25e. This check valve, normally closed by the expansive forceof the spring 2l, plus pressure of the well fluid, obviously, will yieldto a sumcient unseating pressure from within the drill stem. If thedevice be pumped through, the pump fluid takes a downward path throughthe openings 52d of the clutch (see Fig. 5) the annular opening 45d, theopening 24e, Figs. 2 and 7, after forcing the valve member 23 off itsseat; and through spider 20 (see Fig.y 8), thence passing aroundinstrument case I6, Fig. 3; and out of the bit through openings la. Asimple form of clutch is 'shown proximate the upper end of Fig. 2.This-clutch, shown engaged, provides means whereby the drill -stem andpacker may be rotated as a unit while the device is being lowered intoor beingv withdrawn from a well. The wings 54c are freely'slidablewithin the drill stem connection member 55, and are provided for theevident purpose of holding the pull rod 55 central therein so that itmay be easily engaged and disengaged by the cable overshot or othermeans employed to engage and disassent shaped lower ends, which keyshave an easy sliding nt between the female keys 52a and 53a. Theengagement between the male and female members of this clutch will lockthe members 3 and I6 together against independent rotation, as shown inFig. 2. -Whenia cable is attached to pull the rod 55 the cable is pulledupon with suillcient force, the male member of the clutch will be raisedout of the female members, thus disengaging the clutch: whereupon thedrill stem may be rotated independent of the packer. The upper femaleclutch member 53 rotates with the drill stem while the lower femaleclutch member 52 and all partsbelow it remain stationary.

When the cable pull upon pull rod 55 has been released, the clutch willreengage because the pressure of well fluid exterior of the packer willforce the piston 31-45 down to its normal position, shown in Fig. 2. Theweight 55a, Fig. 2, may be employed, if necessary, to overcome frictionand resistance of heavy mud in completing the return or reengagingmovement of the clutch. 'Ihis weight, shown broken, may be of any lengthnecessary to provide the required weight, which, when employed at all,may be, for example, 1,000 to 2,000 pounds. Manifestly, a coiled springengaged between the member 55 and the wings 54e may be substituted forsaid weight.

It will be noted that the male member of the clutch has one key 54hlonger than the others.

.This longest key. also having a wedge shaped lower end, acts as a pilotto guide all of the other male keys into proper engagement with theirmating female members. In this operation an opening between the inclinedwedge shaped upper ends 53h, of the upper female members is engaged bythis longest male key, and, in turn, an opening between the similarupper ends 52h of. the lower female member is engaged by the lower wedgeshaped end of this longest male key 54h by which both female members arereadily aligned to have all their other slots engaged by engage thecable therewith. Due to disengagement of the clutch caused by the pullof the cable attached to pull rod 55, the drill stem may be rotatedduring the test, while the packer will remain stationary. The drill stemconnection member 56 has an external flange 55a, rotativly engagedbetween the internal flange 2a and the upper end of member 3. A seriesof equally spaced female keys 53a, Fig. 12, having upper wedge shapedends 53h, are formed interiorly of the upper clutch female member 53,which mem`- ber is threaded into the lower end of member A and securedthere by the weld 53e. The lo'wer,

female member 52, threaded into member 3 and secured there by the weld52e. has an equal number of equally spaced similar female keys 52a, withwedge shaped upper ends 52h. similar to the wedge shaped upper ends 53hof the member 53.

The members 52 and 53 are shown as made separate from the respectiveparts into which they are secured for manufacturing convenience only.'I'he male member 54, Fig. l1, of this clutch also has an equal numberof similarly equally spaced keys 54a. having similar wedge the othershorter keys of the male member.

The packing 55, within an annular .recess between members 2 and 56, isengaged. by the gland 5l, which gland is caused to securely engage Ithepacking by means of stuffing box cap l1. The evident purDOSe of thispacking is to prevent leakage through the clutch.

An instrument oase I6, Fig. 3, may be welded into the nipple l5 by weldsIa, which have control openings lib which communicate between theinrterior of the instrument case and the well bore. The lid II, by whichthe instruments may.

be placed into or removed from the case, is secured upon the packingAIla by nuts Il engaging upon studs I3, secured within case I6 by weldsIla. All outside communication with the interior of the instrument casewill be 4through openings I Cb. Within thLs case, suitable instrumentsmay be placed for .the purpose of recording pressures and .temperaturesand variations 'therein while the device is being lowered into the well,while the sample is 'being taken and while the device is being withdrawnfrom the well. Suitable records can be kept to ascertain the relativeposition in the well during various readings or recordings depending, ofcourse, upon the type of infomation which is being obtained.

In operation, the device is secured upon the drill stem 5I, Fig. 1, bymeans of a coupling 52, threaded upon the upper end of drill stemoonnection member "fand lowered into the well bore until the packer isat a point opposite. or

employed to expand the packer.

expanded, and all well iiuidabove it sealed there against downwardmovement past the packer. Such adjustment, obviously, will provide thatno duct two rtests. The rst test should be made by e setting the packerimmediately above 'the formation to be tested. In the second ltest, thepacker should be set immediately below this formation. The differencebetween the two tests will disclose the quantity and character of fluidventering the well bore rthrough the formation between the levels wherethe packer was set for both tests. To illustrate, it will be assumedthat the well is four thousand feet deep, and that there is av sand tobe tested from 3.000 Ito 3,020 feet, it being also assumed that thereare numerous other sands which may be discharging4 into the well borebelow three thousand feet. In order to test the sand between 3,000 and3,020 feet, the packer should be set at or slightly above 3,000 feetforthe first test, and again set at 3,020. feet, or slightly below, for thesecond test. If the first test should reveal that all formations below-3,000 feet are producing art the rate oi 1,000 barrels per day, and ii'the second test should show that all vformations below 3,020 feet areproducing at the rateof 500 barrels per day. it becomes evident that thesand between 3,000 and 3,020 feet is producing the other 500 barrels perday.

` The device being lowered into proper position for the test, as abovestated, a cable, having some form 'of overshot or other means to engagewith pull rod 55, is lowered into the drill stem until such engagementis made. The cable is then pulled upon with enough force-to raise thepiston 31-60 far enough to expand fthe packer into sealing olfengagement with the wall of the well bore. As heretofore stated, thepressure of the well fluid above the packer is transmitted under .thispiston through breather passages a, chamber 30D, and openings 63h. Thefull force of the cable pull upon .the piston, therefore, is.transmitted by liquid pumped out of chamber 32h, through pressure ports32a, chamber dsc, and openings 50h, to the interlor oi' packer i2.

The packer being expanded. so as to securely hold all well fluid in thewell bore above it, the intake ports Sb must be placed in communicationwith the well duid below the packer to allow this iluid to enter thedrill stem. The lintake ports are opened by the same pressure means Itwill be observed that pressure ports 30a (see Fig. 19), communicate withthe annular chamber @Sc into which chamber the uid in the chamber 32h ispumped by .the cable pull. Some of the uld so pumped enters throughports 30a and forces the piston ldownward, compressing spring 21. Thedownward movement of this piston is arrested by the landing of valvetravel spacer 25 'uponthe landing spider 20, et which time the V'annularchamber 30o has moved downward opposite the intake ports 34h, as shownin Fig, 19. Well uid from below the packer then enters the drill stemvia openings ia of the bit, passing around the instrument case in nipplei5, passing between. arms 20a of spider 20 (see Fig. 8),

through the central opening in spacer 2B and a.l

similar opening through piston d5.- through ports 45a, through chamber36e, and intake ports 34h (see Fig. 19), Vinto annular opening 66d, andthence through openings Bic of spider 5i (see Fig. 6), and openings 52dof the clutch (see Fig. 5).

'I'he spring 2l should be adjusted'to hold the intake valve piston I5 inclosed position over the intake ports IIb until the packer has been'fully well fluid can enter the drill stem except from the well borebelow the packer, indicated at b and d, Fig. 1. If it be assumed that200 pounds per square inch in chamber '32h will cause the packer tosecurely engage the formation, then, if thespring 2l be adjusted toallow intake ports Nb to be uncovered by300 pounds per square inch ofpressure applied by piston 4 I-45 through ports 34a, and if the cablepull is such as to cause the piston `to transmit 500 pounds per squareinch to chamber 32h, it is apparent that the test will allow only wellfluid from below the packer to enter the drillstem.. A half-inch steelcable,

Ysuch as are frequently employed for hailing or vswabbing wells willwithstand more than 18,000 pounds pull. If, for example, the pistonemployed to pump uid into the packer, has an end area of 3 square inchesand that 15,000 pounds is pulled on the cable attached to the piston,the.

packer will be expanded by a pressure of 5,000 POunds Der square inch.At conclusion of the test, the cable pull should be quickly released inorder to allow the spring 2l to promptly return the piston ll-05,thereby closing the intake ports 34h.

When the cable pull is released, all parts of the device will beinstantlyreturned to the positions 'shown in Fig. 2. Such return isaccomplished by the well pressure transmitted through the dis- -tendedpacker upon the iluld within it, causing such as shown in Fig. 3, may beemployed with,

and as completing, the device illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, which willbe considered as inserted or itted into the showing in Fig. 2 at theline E-E, with the construction shown in Fig. 3 attached below. That is,the part of the device shown above the line E-E in Fig. 2 will beconsidered as being joined upon the top of the device illustrated inFig. 13; and that part of the device shown in Fig. 3 will be consideredas being joined upon the lower end of the showing in Fig. 14.

The outer shell of the modification illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 isformed of the nipple 63, corresponding to the nipple 4 in Fig. 2; thecoupling 66, nipple 05, sleeve nipple 05, having internal annulargrooves 66a, while the packer nipple 61, has the' pressure chambernipple 68 superimposed upon it. The sleeve 4connection member l0 hasinternal annular grooves 10a andl its cupped extremity 1lb, correspondsiu use and purposetothe similarpart'linFig.2. The endshield member l,having internal annular grooves 9a in its'cupped portion 9b; alsopacking Il and locking ring il are the same in construction and purpose.as the similar parts bearing corresponding reference characters in Fig.2. The packer assembly in Fig. 13 will be understood as serving the samepurpose as the packer employed and described in connection with Fig. 2,to which reference is here made.

A piston actuated by pulling on a cable and adapted to expand the packerby pumping uid into it, is employed similarly to the somewhat diiIerentpiston shown in Fig. 2. The piston base ring 82, Fig. i3, pressed overnipple Il, and engaging upon connection member Il; packing rings 83, andpacking ring spacers Il, also engaged over the same nipple, are securedin the assembled position as shown by the piston assembling clamp I5,having threaded engagement upon the nipple 81. 'I'his piston has a closemovable iit within nipple I'I and will be designated by the referencenumerals l2ll.

any time, check valve 19 then yielding to allow pump iluid to pass outthrough the openings la of the bit. as appears in Fig. 3. In operationfor making a test, the device is lowered into the weli and operated thesame as was explained for the preferred form o! the in- ,ventiom thepiston rod 89, Fig. 13, threadedly attached to member Il serving thevsame purpose as stated for the rod 38, shown in Fig. 2.

The annular chamber. Bld, Fig. 13, formed between nipples 61 and 68, ismadeleakproot by weld lb securing the crimped upper end lla' upon nipple61 and by weld c securing the lower end of nipple 68 upon packer endshield' member ll. 'I'he pressure pipes Il, having their bent endssecured through'nipple il by welds Ila and 80h provide leakproofcommunication between chamber 68d. and the interior of the packer,

l as appears in Fig. .13. The piston carrier nipple 81 has a closesliding't through a sleeve nipple and circular the U-shaped cups I6 inorder to prevent thev liquid in chamber S'Ic from escaping therefromexcept through the ports 61a when the piston is pulled upward. It willbe understood that the chambers 61e and d are to be illled with aviscous liquid, such as lead paint, glycerin, or heavy oil, which may besupplied through the opening shown closed by plug Ile. The transversebreak in the drawing. Fig. 13, slightly below the ports 61a indicatesthat considerable length is broken out.

'Ihe short nipples secured to nipples 61 and Gl by welds 69a and'iibprovide es c communicating between the well bore and chamber 61h for thepurDOse oi admitting well Considering the device partially shown inFigs. 13 and 14:,` as being completed by adding the clutch and otherparts above the line E-E, Fig. 2, to the upper end oi' the partsshown'in Fig. l3andbyaddingallpartsinFlg.3belowthose shown in. Fig.14the operation willl be made clear by comparing Figs. 13 and 22, theformer showing the packer unexpanded, and the latter showing a similarpacker expanded.

The packer being placed in proper position for a test, as described forthe preferred embodiment, a cable is attached to the pull rod Il. 'I'hecable is then pulled upon with enough force to expand the packer. Inthis operation piston 82-85 is raised and pumps the uid in chamber I'Icout through pressure ports 61a, into annular chamber "d, and intopressure pipes Il, which pipes discharge upon the inner surface or thefluid into this chamber in order that the pres- Y sure under the pistonwill be equal to the well pressure exterior of the packer. It will be observed that there is no commlmication between the chambers 68d and llb.

In making a test the drillstem, of course, will be run empty into thewell, a's in the preferred form. Well iluid is excluded from the drillstem by the ball check valve 'I9 engaging upon itsseat Ma therebyclosing the central opening through the upper end of member 'Il againstwell nuid from below. This valve is supported upon winged vent wellfluid entering the chamber llb'through openings ile. from entering` thedrill Stem through be relieved as soonas thepacker is setandthe' packer(see Fig. 22).

The operation of the rst modiiied form, being similar to that of thepreferred embodiment, reference is here made thereto.

Upon the lower end of Fig. 18, which ligure illustrates the secondmodiiled form of the invention, the parts shown in Fig. 3 will beconsidered as added to complete the device.

It will be noted that in both preceding forms, the pressure under thepiston employed to expand the packer was equalized with the wellpressure above the packer, whereas in this form the pressure under thepiston is equalized with the well pressure below theV packer. Thepressures immediately above and below the packer will be approximatelythe same while the packer is unexpanded, but after the packer isexpanded,

these pressures may vary greatly, and, in fact,

will almost always so vary. This is true because the pressure above thepacker is undisturbed and static; whereas, the pressure below the packerwill intake ports tc the drill stem are opened, Obviously,ii no iiuid isproduced by the well forma tion below the packer, only very Blight flow,or possibly no flow into the drill stem will take place. Even greatproduction from the i'ormation below the packer will not maintain thepressure below the packer at anywhere near the pressure above it. Forthat reason. it is evident that, ii the pressure imder the piston betaken from below the packer, greater torce must beexerteduponthecabletoliitthepistonthanitthis force be taken from abovethe packer. In the second modiiied form, fewer parts and somewhatsimpler construction are employed to accomplish expansion of the packerthan in eitber of the preceding forms, but at the expense o! somewhatmore torce required to be exerted upon the cable.

The outer shell in Fig. 18 consists o! a drill stem connection member l,coupling Il. stuilng box cap 31, clutch shell members 2 and I, nipple92. packer end shield member l, packer nipple 8l, and nipple t5.

The inner shell in this construction is the one cylinder nipple Q9,having intake ports 99a. proximate its lower end.

The packer, indicated generally at G, is the same as the packer employedin both preceding forms and itis mounted the same as the packer in Fig.2, except that the packer nipple 98, Figi i8, is slightly dierept at itslower extremity fromnipple d, Fig. 2.

'ihe means for expanding the packer consists of a cylinder, having apiston adapted to be actuated by a cable for the purpose of pumpingliquid into thepacker, pipes being provided .to transmit the liquid fromthe piston chamber to the packer. The piston its, having peripheralgrooves web, has an upper extension of reduced diameter iotav over whichare mounted cups do either of the preceding forms, as has been ex-Yplained.

. At all times when the packer is not expanded, the check valve assemblyindicated generally at H. Fig. 18, will exclude well fluid from thedrill stem. Thegcheck valve support |01 is secured upon nipple by weldi011) and upon cylinder 99 by weld Hilo. These weids and the weldedconnections Sla and 91h joining pipes 91 to cylinder 9.! and nipple 83,also serve to secure this cylinder against being torn out of its placeby the cable pull employed toexpand the packer. The spring base w8secured within nipple v94 by weids lola supports the spring and checkvalve assembly in the same manner as the part 20 supports the similarcheck valve in Fig. 2, hence the general reference here.

The clutch, referred to generally at E, Fig. 18, y and the stung box,referred to generally at F, are like and serve the same purposes as thesimilar constructions in Fig. 2, the same being re 'peated in Fig. 18 toavoidthe possibility of conseparated by spacers t, being like and having1 the same reference numerals as the similar parte shown upon the lowerpiston in Fig. 2. The piston head idd, having threaded engagement uponthe extension luto, secures the piston assembly which will be referredto as piston idd-|05. The lower position of this piston is determined byits engagement upon landing ring it; The

fusion often resulting fromnumerous breaks and resulting explanations.-

The drill'stem may be pumped through at any to which reference is madefor its use in this 1 modication. Y

l The packer being properly positioned for a test, as heretoforeexplained. a vcable is attached to the pull rod Se, Fig. 2, and pulledupon to raise piston idd- 965 (see Fig. 22). The liquid in chamber hebis thereby forced out through pipes piston in its extreme'upper positionfrom closing y the pressure pipes el. The piston rod 58, clutch malemember dit, and pull rod dd provide means whereby an attachable anddetachable cable ad, Fig. l, may be employed to manipulate the pacher,as explained for the preceding embodiments. The pressure pipes di,secured upon cylinder 99 by weids sla and secured upon' nipple @t byweids sib, provide leak proof communicationbetween the piston chamber@9b `and the inner surface of the packer.

It will be understood that the chamber 95h is to be iilled with aliquid, such as lead paint, glycerin,

or heavy oil, as stated for the similar chamber ib, Fig. 2. This chambermay be iilled or drained through the opening shown closed by plugs idd,Fig. 20. It is necessary that there be no communication between thechamber @9h and the annular space betweencylinder 99 and nipple' 92. Nosuch communication is possible through the openings closed by plugs ltd(see Fig. 20) and no leakage wil occur on account of nipples Idi beingsecured upon cylinder @t by weids itin and rings ist `being secured uponnipple @2 by weids ia.

lt will be noted that pressure of well liquid below the packer transmitsto the lower end of piston member i835 via openings la oi the bit, Fig..3. This pressure aids the cable pull in overcoming the pressureexterior of the packer, as is apparent. but since the pressure below thepacker is subject to great reduction after the packer is expanded, moreforce will be required to raise the piston itil-it than will berequiredto raise the pistons employed to expand the packer in @l toengage the interior of th packer which is thereby expanded, as has beenexplained.

"The break in the drawing, Fig. 18, indicates that the cylinder 9S andpressure pipes 9i may be oi' any desired length necessary to providesufficient liquid in chamber 99o to properly expand the packer.

Raising the piston to expand the packer uncovers mtahe ports sta, Fig.22, thereby admitting testiiuid into the drill stem from below thepacker via openings ia olf the bit.

When the cable pull is released at conclusion of the test the pressureof well fluid compresses the packer and forces the fluid interior of thepacker back through pipes @l and into chamber @8b. This restores allparts of the device to their normal positions shown in Fig. 18.

It is apparent that the weight 55a, shown in Fig. 2, may be employed, ifnecessary. to overcome friction and resistance of heavymud in completingthe return or reengaging movement o2 the clutch, as wasstated for thepreferred torni.

This second modied device, as well as the rst modied form, may beemployed to make single or successive tests, as explained for thepreferred embodiment.

It is understood that all references. to positio and directions, such asupper and lower, upward and .downward, above and below applyl to thetool as illustrated in the accompanying drawings' wherein the upperportion of the tool is shown uppermost.

The invention as herein illustrated and described is manifestly subjectto such changes in construction and arrangement of parts as will be thestated obpansible packer carried by said housing, a reservoir oi.'liquid also in said housing, andhmeans operable independently of saiddrill stem to force liquid from said reservoir into said packer to setthe packer against the wall of the wellbore.

2. A testing devicefor wells including in cornbination, a drill stem, ahousing thereon, an expansible packer carried by said housing, areservoir of liquid also in said housing, means operable independentlyof said drill stem to force liquid from said reservoir into'said packerto set the packer against the wall of thewell bore, and additional meansalso operable by said rst means to admit a sample o1' iluid from thewell bore below said packer. Y

3. A testing device for wells including in oombination, a drill stem, ahousing thereon, an expansible packer carried by said housing, areservoir of liquid also in said housing, means operable independentlyof said drill stem to force liquid from said reservoir into said packerto set the packer against the wall of the well bore, and clutch meansnormally holding said drill stem and packer together but adapted torelease said drill stem flor rotation independent of said packer.

4. A testing device for wells including in combination, a drill stem, ahousing thereon, an expansible packer carried by said housing, areservoir of liquid also in said housing, means operable independentlyof said drill stem to force liquid from said reservoir into said packerto set the packer against the wall of the well bore, and clutch meansnormally holding said drill stem and packer together but adapted torelease said drill stem for rotation independent of said packer., saidclutch means being operable by said rst means.

5. A testing device for wells including in combination, a drill stem, ahousing thereon, an exadmit liquid above the packer from the welloutside o! said drill stem to cooperate with said fir Ymeans to expandsaid packer. v-

voir of liquid also in said housing, means operable independently ofsaid drill stem to force liquid from saldreservoir into said packertoset the packer, against the wall of the well bore, and additional meansalso operable by said nrst means to admit liquid belowthe packer fromthe well outside of said drill stem to cooperate with said-first meansto expand said packer.

9. A testing device for wells including in combination, a drill stem, ahousing thereon, an expansible packer carried by said housing, areservoir of liquid also in said housing, means operable independentlyof said drillistein to torce liquid from said reservoir into said packerto set the packer .against the wall of the well bore, said meanscomprising a flexible cable operable from the ace through said drillpipe.

10. A formation tester including a housing, an expansible packerthereon, a drill stem connected to said housing, means to release saidconnection so that said stem may be rotated, and means op- Y enable tosimultaneously set said packer and repiston in the upper cylinder, asecond piston in the lower cylinder, a third piston below the secondpiston and secured thereto in said lower cylinder, a pressure pipesurrounding both of said pansible packer carried by said housing, areser- 6. A testing device for weils including in comb'nation, a drillstem, a housing thereon, an expansible packer carried by said housing, areservoir of liquid also in said housing, means operable independentlyof said drill stem to force liquid from said reservoir into said packerto set the packer against the wall of the well bore, and additionalmeans also operable by said first means to cylinders. said pipe formingan annular space around the cylinders and being connected hermeticallyat both ends therewith, nipples communicating between said pressure pipeand the packer, a lubricant chamber communicating with the uppercylinder and piston, said chamber having communication with the wellbore, a lubricant in said chamber, openings between the upper cylinderand the pressure. pipe, said openings being above the upper piston,openings between the lower cylinder and the pressure pipe, said openingsbeing above the second or intermediate piston, a liquid in said uppercylinder above the piston therein and in the pressure pipesurroundingthe cylinders, closure means for the upper end of the upper cylinder, apiston rod extending through such closure means, an axial openingthrough the lower piston and intake ports communicating with an annularspace above said piston. said annular space being adapted to become inregistration with intake ports in the lower cylinder when the packeradmit liquid from the well outside of said drill 65 stem to cooperatewith said iirst means to expand said packer.

7. A testing device for wells including in comindependently of saiddrill stem to force liquid from said reservoir into 'said packer to setthe packer against the wall'ot the well bore, and addiis expanded, aspring adapted to normally position the intake ports out ofcommunication with each other, a weight adapted to maintain the pistonsin their normal positions, a check valve in the shell below the packer,said valve being adapted to be opened by pressure in the shell above it,an instrument case in the shell, a drill bit upon the lower end of theshell, a pull rod connected with said piston rod, an operating cable andmeans for releasably engaging the same with said pull rod to lift theupper piston, expand the packer, and open the intake ports, and a drillbit upon the lower end tional means also operable by said rst means to of the-shell. v

12. A well testing tool including a supporting string of drill stem orpipe, a packer on said pipe, a tubular piston in said pipe, said pistonhaving an upward tubular extension slidable through a sleeve nipple,said extension having openings proximate the upper end thereof, anintake valve nipple extending downward from said piston, a sleeve memberover the lower portion of said intake valve nipple, openings in saidsleeve, said openings being normally closed by said intake valve nippleand being'adapted to be opened by raising the piston, a clutch normallyengaged when the packer is unexpanded and adapted to become disengagedwhen the packer is expanded, a pull rod connected to said piston, saidpull rod being attached to means extending through said clutch, saidmeans being attached to a head, an operating cable adapted to bereleasably engaged with said head, a chamber above said piston, a nipplesurrounding said .pipe and forming an` annular chamber thereabout,openings communicating between said chambers liquid in said chambers,pressure pipes affording communication between said annular chamber andthe inner surface of said packer, a check valve in the pipe below saidintake valve nipple, said check valve being adapted to be opened bypressure from above, an instrument case within said pipe below the checkvalve, and a drill `bit upon the lower end of said pipe.

13.- A well testing tool including a supporting string of drill stem'orpipe, a packer on said pipe, a `cylinder secured within said pipe, apiston within said cylinder, tubes communicating between said cylinderand said packer, liquid in said cylinder above the piston, intakeopenings in said cylinder normally closed by the piston and adapted tobe opened when the piston is raised, thereby placing in communicationthe well bore below the packer and the interior of the pipe, closuremeans on the upper end of said cylinder, means connecting said pistonwith a pull rod, a cable operable from above the well, and means on saidcable to releasably engage said pull rod, a clutch in said pipe, saidclutch being normally engaged and adapted to become disengaged when thepiston is raised, a check valve in said pipe below the packer, aninstrument case within the pipe below the check valve,

and a drill bit upon the lower end of said pipe. o

14. A well testing tool including a supporting string of drill stem orpipe, a shell surrounding said pipe, a packer on said shell, an uppercylinder secured within said shell, said cylinder having openingsproximate the lower end thereof communicating with the well bore, alower cylinder secured to said shell, means for connecting saidcylinders and for separating the chambers thereof, a piston in the uppercylinder,

a second piston in the lower cylinder, a third piston below the vsecondpiston in said lower cylinder, a pressure pipe surrounding both ofsaidcylinders, said pipe forming an Aannular space around the cylinders andbeing connected the piston and extending through said closure' means, anaxial opening through the lower piston, intake ports communicating withan annular spaceabove said piston, said annular space being adapted tobecome in registration with intake ports in the lower cylinder when thepacker is expanded, and an operating cable and 'means for releasablyengaging the same with a rod exi tending upward from the upper piston tolift said piston, expand the packer, and open the intake ports.

15. A well testing tool including-a supporting string of drill stem orpipe, a packer on said pipe, a tubular piston in said pipe, said pistonhaving an upward tubular extension, said extension having openings incommunication with intake. ports for well liquid and a check valve, anintake valve nipple extending downward from said piston, a sleeve nippleover the lower portion of said valve nipple, openings in said sleeve,said openings being normally closed by said intake valve nipple andbeing adapted to be opened by raising the piston, a pull rod connectedto said piston, anoperating cable adapted to releasably engage said pullrod, a chamber above said piston, a nipple surrounding said pipe andforming an annular chamber thereabout, openings communieating betweensaid chambers,l liquid in said chambers, and pressure pipes affordingcommunication between said annular chamber and said packer.

16. A well testing tool including a supporting string of drill stem vorpipe, a packer on said pipe, a cylinder secured within said pipe, apiston within said cylinderbmeans for communication between saidcylinder and said packer, liquid in said cylinder above the piston,intake openings in said-cylinder normally closed by said piston andadapted to be opened when the piston is raised, thereby placing incommunication. the

well bore below the packer and the interior of A the pipe; closure meanson the upper end of said,

cylinder, means connecting saidpiston with a pull rod, -a cable operablefrom above the well, means on 'said cable to releasably engage said pullrod, and a check valve in said pipe below the packer;

' ALEXANDER BOYNTON.

